INSECT OBSERVATION. 161 



this is a perfectly harmless creature ; yet it does 

 not bite, it has no sting or vemon of any kind, and 

 the long body which writhes about as we hold it 

 can hurt neither men nor horses, although it is 

 vulgarly known as a horse-stinger. Possibly we 

 may be favoured with a glimpse of a dragon-fly's 

 toilet if we keep still and motionless. The brilliant 

 eyes are softly brushed with one of the forelegs, so 

 as to clear away any speck of dust ; the wonderful 

 head, which seems attached to the body by the 

 merest thread, turns this \vay and that as the 

 insect plies the combs or short, stiff fringes with 

 which its legs are furnished, brushing its finery as 

 carefully as any human dandy could, till body, 

 head, and wings are all in perfect order. Then it 

 will sail away with a scarcely perceptible move- 

 ment of its broad wings to pursue its living prey, 

 a veritable pirate of the air. 



The various seasons bring, of course, a suc- 

 cession of insect visitors to my valley. In early 

 spring the solitary bees are a great delight 

 to me ; they are the species which exist in 

 pairs, not often in communities, as the honey-bee 

 does. Great masses of lungwort (pulinonaria) 



ii 



